An unexpected visitor – a debilitating backache – appeared four days ago. I suspect that over-consumption of toxic political news left the back door open for this unwanted house guest to slip in. It reminds me of another house guest that almost disappeared because it felt so neglected – self-care. I want that one to stick around, we really have a good time together and have gone through thick and thin. Self-care reminded me to let Beauty back in. And, already, I feel like I can breathe more deeply.

I have a very small collection of four orchids. One of them is this Miltassia hybrid which bloomed back in December delighting me with its intriguing speckled petals.

Miltassia hybrid orchid

After a few short weeks, the petals began to dry up, now looking more and more like spidery insects.

Dried orchids

With the help of a Photoshop artistic filter, it turned into a painting:

and then into this, almost abstract image, still imbued with a strange beauty:

If you ignore beauty,
you will soon find
yourself without it…
But if you invest in beauty,
it will remain with you
all the days of your life.

I very much like your drying orchid — perhaps even more than its bloom stage. And isn’t it true, that beauty is as necessary as air? It doesn’t have to cost a lot, or be some sort of rarity. Sometimes, even a slant of sunlight over a dandelion patch will do.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard about so many different versions of “reality” and “facts” as I have lately 🙂 I have decided that the beauty we create in our lives is as much, if not more, part of the spectrum of reality as those other things that hit the news with more impact. Hail to Benji!

I know. It has made me think about the different versions of perceived reality. It would be beneficial if we all create a positive reality where we care for one another. Benji is a real therapy dog and as it turns out he keeps me sane or so I hope… Hail to Benji, 😀

I like that you refer to pain and self-care as living entities to welcome and dismiss into your life! I also appreciate, very much, that you took the processing of decaying, and showed that it still too holds beauty. xo

Years ago, I read a book by Ruth Gendler, The Book of Qualities, and just last week someone mentioned it again. The book chapters each consist of one quality that she describes as a person. Just amazing. I wasn’t thinking about this book when I wrote this post but it seems like her influence lasted nevertheless…
I love observing what happens when things are past their prime. Last year I wrote this post: https://beautyalongtheroad.wordpress.com/2016/03/08/harmonious-aging/ using aging flower petals.

I also like the dried orchid flowers, Annette. One of the subjects I like to pursue at times is diminishing beauty (an unfortunate description as beauty is all relative and aging is beautiful too). A very underappreciated vision. I think it is unfortunate that people try so hard to deny their aging by hiding it behind artifice.
Having been laid up with back issues a few times. I empathize and hope you are improving daily. It really is important to work at staying healthy… says a guy who should follow his own advice.

At this point, my back only hurts when I sit in front of the computer or behind the steering wheel – is there a message?
I very much agree with you on the relativity/subjectivity of beauty. If we compare a wilting flower with a flower in full bloom, we’ll probably prefer the latter. However, if we focus on the wilted flower and study its unique beauty, then there’s no need for comparison, only being with and appreciating this unique object.

Absolutely beautiful pictures! The quote is ideal…the following quote from Frank Lloyd Wright is one of my favorites: “No house should ever be on a hill or on anything. It should be of the hill. Belonging to it. Hill and house should live together each the happier for the other.”